I'm looking for a manga with a female lead that is realistic. Not to say that she doesn't have dreams or is super-cynical, but that she takes situations for what they are. A big plus if she is smart/strong intellectually and emotionally.

Romance would be nice, but it's not necessary if the story is good. The rest of the story and characters being a little more realistic would be another good aspect.

An example might be like Cheese in the Trap. That's the only manga I can think of that has a realistic female lead... A counter-example would be Orange Marmalade-- although I haven't read all of it, she does seem realistic but doesn't really ever DO anything...

I think "practical" might be the better word? Realistic can be construed as referring to how credibly she is portrayed...

Nothing actually springs to mind right away; it's not exactly a trait that stands out, lol...

Nineteen, Twenty-One, maybe? The female lead is... normal.
Solanin... Asano Inio works have realistic characters...

Shining for sure.
Matryoshka and Akai Michi as well.
Gozen 3-ji no Muhouchitai . kind of? It was just on my brain...

Hmm. I'll add more when I think of some.

Heptagon, Otoyomegatari, Genei Hakurankai. i've also been looking for mangas/manhwas with practical female leads, and Cheese in the Trap is the best one i know of so far, though you're already reading it.

Horimiya the protagonist is realistic, i think.

All My Darling Daughters
Flower of Life

[img]http://oi50.tinypic.com/1p7xj6.jpg[/img]

Ashita no Ousama

She's a country girl, but a determined one. Story's a little bit more optimistic though (a little unrealistic maybe). All in all, it's a very sweet and warm manga with a lead that knows what she wants. Hope this helped.

I'd like to echo Roughan's answer too, Yoshinaga Fumi (author of Flower of Life and All My Daring Daughters) 's works often figure real and full characters, regardless of leads.